Developed as part of the wider West Lakes Scheme, West Lakes Shore was constructed on reclaimedswampymarshland. In 1969 an Indenture was signed by the South Australian Government and Australian property developer Delfin (now Lendlease Communities) for the joint development of this area which measures 4.83 km long and 1.6 km wide.[citation needed]
Since that time, West Lakes Shore has become a thriving community of 8,800 people enjoying sporting, shopping, educational and recreational facilities in a fully planned development renowned nationally for its excellence in planning and design.[8]
West Lakes Shore Post Office opened on 21 May 1997 replacing the nearby Semaphore Park office.[9]
A prominent feature of West Lakes Shore is the large freshwater lake. West Lakes Shore has frontage onto the lake between Tennyson in the south and Semaphore Park in the north.
The lake began filling in November 1974, in time for the opening of the nearby regional shopping centre (now Westfield West Lakes).
Due to polluted stormwater runoff into the lake, it's recommended to avoid prolonged contact with the water (e.g. swimming) for 2-3 days after rain.[10]
A.M. Ramsay Regatta Course
The boating lake was constructed with an international-standard rowing course in mind, and the largely straight and wide southern portion of the lake was reserved for a 2 kilometre rowing course. Today, it's known as the A.M. Ramsay Regatta Course.
West Lakes Shore is home to the headquarters of Rowing South Australia, with its building — and various private boat sheds — situated at the northern end of the rowing course.
People
The total population of West Lakes Shore at the 2021 Census was 3236.
In the 2021 census the population comprised 47.6% males and 52.4% females.
Children aged between 0–14 years accounted for 16.3% of the total population, while 41.4% were persons aged 55 years and over.
The median age was 48 years compared to the national median age of all Australians of 38 years.
The vast majority (75.5%) of the residents were born in Australia, with 6.1% born in England and 1.3% in Italy, 1.1% in Scotland and 0.9% in both Greece and China.
0.7% of the population were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.[13]
West Lakes Shore R-7 School is located on Edwin Street and caters for children from Reception to Year 7.[citation needed]
West Lakes Sports Club Inc, located on the East side of Bartley Tce was established in 2002 and is home to the Henley & Grange Baseball Club, SMOSH West Lakes Senior and Junior Football Club, Port Adelaide Softball Club, Current Affairs Group and the West Lakes Social Club, and is also available to the public for functions and dining.[16]
Club West Lakes (previously known as The Lakes Sports and Community Club) was built in 1986 and is home to the West Lakes Bowling Club, Tennis Club, and Croquet Club. Combined it has over 800 members.[citation needed]
RowingSA and the West Lakes Aquatic Centre are based on the lakefront, alongside Military Road. Each year during March, the Centre hosts the annual Head of the River Carnival.[citation needed]
With access to the waters of West Lakes and with generally flat terrain, various sporting organisations conduct triathlons around the streets and in the lake. Usually these triathlons are held in the autumn months.[citation needed]
^Casey, T.M. (30 September 1976). "GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES ACT"(PDF). The South Australian Government Gazette. Government of South Australia. p. 1035. Retrieved 15 July 2019. the Geographical Names Board has recommended that the names "West Lakes Shore", "West Lakes", "Semaphore Park", "Tennyson", "Seaton", "Grange" and "Royal Park" be assigned to the areas defined hereunder in the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh schedules respectively